MiG-3 Aces of World War 2 cover

Description

Created by ex-Polikarpov designers Ivanovic Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich, the MiG-1/3 family of fighters was built to satisfy a Soviet Air Force requirement for an advanced, fast, high altitude fighter. Entering service in the spring of 1941, the problematic MiG-1 had its handling problems rectified with the hasty production of the MiG-3 - the latter had its Mikulin engine moved further forward, increased outer wing dihedral and a strengthened fuselage. As of 22 June 1941, Air Force manoeuvre units in the five borderline military districts could field 917 MiG-3s. Many of these were destroyed on the ground when the Germans launched Operation Barbarossa. Nevertheless, enough examples survived to allow pilots such as Stepan Suprun (Twice Hero of the Soviet Union), Aleksandr Pokryshkin (Thrice Hero of the Soviet Union) and Lev Shestakov (Hero of the Soviet Union) to claim a number of victories on the type. Early successes by units such as 23rd and 28th IAPs resulted in 35 aerial victories being claimed by MiG-3 pilots in the first eight days of the Great Patriotic War. Other units enjoyed similar levels of success, with MiG-3-equipped 15 and 31st IAP proving themselves to be the most combat-ready fighter units on the Northwestern Front. By the end of 1941, a handful of pilots had 'made ace' flying the MiG-3, despite the Soviet air forces having taken a fearful beating at the hands of the Luftwaffe. In 1942 MiG pilots actively participated in the defence of Leningrad, Moscow, Odessa, Kiev and Sevastopol, with still more aviators becoming aces as the year progressed. Amongst them was Aleksandr Pokryshkin, the second-highest scoring Russian ace with 59 victories to his name. He claimed his first five kills while flying a MiG-3 with 55th IAP. Stalin terminated MiG-3 production in October 1941, although the fighter remained in frontline service in large numbers until mid-1942. Surviving examples continued to serve with national air defence regiments until 1943.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1
Equipping Soviet fighter aviation units with new types of aircraft. Commencing MiG-1/3 production at Factory No 1, and fielding them with manoeuvre units pre-war. Initial problems in service. Famous pilots and their opinion of the MiG-3. Drawbacks in fighter combat tactics inherent in the Red Army Air Force. Deployment of air regiments equipped with MiG fighters as of 22 June 1941.

Chapter 2
Employment of MiG-3s during the early stages of the Great Patriotic War. The first month of hostilities and results of combat operations waged by units equipped with MiGs (8th and 9th IADs and 15th SAD). Victories and losses, and most successful MiG pilots of this period.

Chapter 3
MiG fighter units defending Odessa, Kiev and Sevastopol, as well as the aircraft's employment on the Southern Front - MiG fighters mounted their most successive operations in this area during this period. Ace Pokryshkin's early combat career.

Chapter 4
MiG fighters in the Leningrad Air Defence System. Combat operations against the Germans and the Finns. The 7th Fighter Air Corps, MiG victories and losses in this region.

Chapter 5
MiG fighters in the Moscow Air Defence System, and their employment in defensive operations and the counteroffensive of winter 1941-42.

Chapter 6
MiG fighters in service with the Baltic Fleet and the Black Sea Fleet air forces.

Product details

Published Jan 24 2012
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781849084420
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Aircraft of the Aces
Short code ACE 102
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

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